Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered [REVIEW] – A Satisfying Return to Nosgoth 

Following the recent remasters of the first two Soul Reaver games, it felt like it was only a matter of time before the 2003 finale, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, got the same treatment, and if you are itching to experience the grand, time-twisting saga of Kain and Raziel, this release is definitely the best way to do it. Just keep your expectations grounded, because whilst it features some great quality-of-life updates and a fresh lick of paint, it remains very much a product of the early 2000s. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

The plot picks up exactly where Soul Reaver 2 left off, but this time, players finally get to split their time between both legendary protagonists: Kain, the haughty vampire lord, and Raziel, his ghostly wraith counterpart. The storytelling is just as wonderfully theatrical as you might remember, backed up by voice acting and an orchestral score that still hold up brilliantly today. However, the lore is REALLY dense, and whilst there is a history section to get new players up to speed, if you have not played the previous entries, you will likely spend the first few hours wondering what the hell is even going on. 

Because the original 2003 release already looked pretty good for its era, the graphical leap here doesn’t feel quite as massive as the earlier remasters (let’s not forget, the first game was on the original PlayStation). The updated character models for Kain and Raziel look fantastic and sharp, whilst the enemies look impressive too – however, some of the environmental textures aren’t quite so clean. Thankfully, if you are feeling like a purist, you can instantly swap back to the classic 2003 graphics on the fly with a quick button press, and honestly? It’s not a bad way to play, with the gothic aesthetic of the world certainly holding up well today. 

Without a doubt, the best addition to The Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is the updated camera. You now have a modern, fully controllable third-person camera that you can toggle at any time, and being able to look around freely instead of fighting the old, fixed cinematic angles is a total game-changer. It helps make exploration and combat far more intuitive and will certainly help cater the game to a modern audience… well… mostly. 

“Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is a solid, albeit flawed, nostalgia trip that manages to feel particularly special thanks to its bundled in extras.“

Combat is where the game’s age can show through. It is essentially a basic hack-and-slash setup where you will be tapping out the same few combos with your sword – you do unlock the likes of elemental attacks and telekinesis, but encounters generally get quite repetitive fast. Progression feels shallow, and whilst both Kain and Raziel are undoubtedly badasses, their move set feels very dated when compared to modern hack-and-slash releases. Players will just be used to a bit more from their hack-and-slash adventures these days. 

Playing as Raziel tends to be the highlight of the campaign though, with his ability to shift between the physical and spectral realms leading to some genuinely clever puzzle solving as the environments warp around you. On the other hand, Kain’s sections feel a bit more restrictive, with his cool vampire abilities (who wouldn’t want to turn into a swarm of bats?) locked to specific, scripted moments rather than being something you get to toy around with on the fly. He has his moments, sure, but his use feels more limited when compared to the creative puzzle-solving found with Raziel. 

The level design has also ditched the sprawling, open exploration of the older games for a much more linear structure. I won’t lie, for an older title, this is something I generally prefer, but in Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, you will find yourself doing a fair amount of backtracking through the same dungeons as both characters, with long stretches of walking where not much happens. Again, it’s an area of the game where it can really show its age, with the action often lacking that sense of progress to keep players fully engaged in the adventure. It’s never bad at all – and, in fairness, its more exciting moments certainly stand out more – but, as mentioned, it is a product of its time. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

For fans eager to dig into the history of Legacy of Kain: Defiance, the remaster packs in some brilliant extra features that serve as a wonderful museum for the franchise. The absolute crown jewel of these bonuses is a playable demo of The Dark Prophecy, the cancelled game that was originally meant to follow Defiance. Getting to finally experience a preserved slice of that lost chapter is a massive treat for longtime players, whilst on top of that, the package includes playable lost levels that were cut from the original 2003 release. Throw in some alternate character skins, a photo mode, and a digital comic reader, and you have a really robust selection of content that celebrates the history of the series (and what it could have been). 

Developer: Crystal Dynamics, PlayEveryWare Games 
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics 
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3747730/Legacy_of_Kain_Defiance_Remastered/